(Weekend Edition)
The horrendous Census Bureau revenue numbers for radio gives the medium a good argument against the Performance Rights Act. The PRA has been described by supporters as a bill "to ensure musicians' fair compensation for radio broadcasts of their work." The bill went to both houses of Congress over a year ago but has yet to be voted on. Congress would like radio and music interests to compromise and agree to a deal but both sides remain far apart. So how bad were radio's revenue numbers? The Census Bureau numbers reflect sharp declines for radio, from $19 billion in 2007 to $16 billion in 2009, according to Radio Ink...
While radio continues to lose billions, the recording industry will be thanking PRA supporter, Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA) with a big Grammy party for a $5,000 fee for each person attending. The Hill reports that for a donation of $5,000 each, attendees get a welcome brunch with Berman, a private box seat to the show and a chance to hang out with the winners at the afterparty. According to data from the Sunlight Foundation, last May the RIAA held a cocktail reception for Berman at its offices. Another fundraiser in April took place at the home of lobbyist Robert Raben, a former assistant attorney general under President Clinton whose clients included the RIAA and Sony BMG. In December, Daryl Friedman, the recording industry's top lobbyist, called Berman a champion of performance rights and cheered his reelection in a blog post published by Grammy.com. Mr. Berman is one popular guy...
Berman touts his co-sponsoring of the Performance Rights Act in 2009 with Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich) and now, he's apparently getting rewarded for it. Berman's office has not responded with a comment...
10 Timeline Memories:
1.1845] ‘Quoth the raven, nevermore’: Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” is published for the first time in the New York Evening Mirror (1/29)…
2. 1933] Debuted on this date: “The Lone Ranger” airs the first of 2,956 episodes, ending in 1955 and beyond that in films and specials (1/30)…
3.1936] Going to Hall: The Baseball Hall of Fame holds its first induction. Elected are: Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson (1/29)…
4.1958] The end of a Hall of Fame career: Brooklyn Dodger 3-time MVP catcher, Roy Campanella is paralyzed below the waist when his car overturns on an icy road in Glen Cove (LI) (1/28). Campy will never play again and is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969…
5.1962] High-flying tragedy: Two members of the ‘Flying Wallendas’ high-wire act are killed when their 7-person pyramid collapses during a performance in Detroit (1/30). In 1978 family patriarch Karl Wallenda falls to his death in Puerto Rico…
6.1986] Liftoff disaster: Millions of people around the world watch as the Challenger Seven explodes taking the lives of seven astronauts: Smith, Scobee, Resnik, McNair, Onizuka, Jarvis and McAulife (1/28)…
7.1990] Guilty as charged: Joseph Hazelwood, former Exxon Valdez skipper, goes on trial in Anchorage (AK) for his role in America’s worst oil spill. He will be acquitted of all charges except for a misdemeanor (1/29)…
8.1995] A Super Bowl 1st: The San Francisco 49ers become the first team in the NFL to win 5 Super Bowls by beating San Diego 49-26 behind Steve Young’s 6 touchdown passes, which breaks Joe Montana’s previous record of 5 (1/29)…
9.1999] Going to Hall: Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor is elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot (1/30)…
10.2006] Wounded anchor: ABC ‘World News Tonight’ co-anchor Bob Woodruff and a cameraman are seriously injured in a roadside bombing in Iraq (1/29)…
Music Memories:
- 1966] Released on this date: "I Fought The Law" - Bobby Fuller Four (1/29)...
- 1969] Debuted on this date: "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour" on CBS-TV. This terrific variety show will run until June, 1972 (1/29)...
- 1969] Up on the roof: For the last time anywhere, the Beatles perform on that London rooftop (1/30)..
- 1985] Recorded on this date: "We Are The World" - USA for Africa with proceeds going to world wide hunger prevention (1/28)...
- 1985] Number One on this date: "I Want To Know What Love Is" - Foreigner (1/30)...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (1/28) Stephen Gostkowski (27), Elijah Wood (31), Kathryn ('Cold Case') Morris (42), Sarah McLachlan (43), Barbi Benton (61), Mikhail Baryshnikov (63), Alan Alda (75) and Mr. Acker Bilk (82)...(1/29) Adam Lambert (29), Greg Louganis (51), Oprah Winfrey (57), Tommy Ramone aka Tommy Ederly (59), Tom Selleck (66) & Katherine Ross...(1/30) Wilmer Valderrama (31), Christian Bale (37), comedienne Brett Butler (53), Phil Collins (60), Davey Johnson (68), Marty Balin (69), Dick Cheney (70), Vanessa Redgrave (74), Gene Hackman (81), Hal Prince (83) & Dorothy Malone (86)...
Timeline Countdown: 9 days until Super Bowl XLV, 16 days until pitchers & catchers report, 17 days until Valentines Day & 24 days until Presidents' Day...
